Was going to Spain from start to finish but now I, Luca have taken over

ElviriaDreamer said:
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 @ 12:18 AM

Hi Gerald

Before you commit to a costly course/tutor, as you are still in the UK, check out your local college. Many offer evening courses in Spanish for mature students, at all levels. They will be starting shortly (SEPT). Maybe you could combine the two, thus spending less on a tutor. Also search out some of the online ones...for extra practice whilst at home.

I gave up...no chance. Can't remember what I had for dinner, let alone take on a whole new language. Brain says no!

Good luck with learning and your eventual move. Sorry for your brother...kind thoughts.

Gerald said:
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 @ 12:40 AM

Hiya,
Thank you for your kind thoughts & ideas for me to learn Spanish. I also have a little difficulty in learning although I am very stubborn. I have to learn from an organisation to which I belong so I am very used to "sticking at it" But if I can get the basics then when I am in Spain hopefully I can accelerate the learning process.
Sadly the doctors said my brother has only about 3 or 4 weeks left, so am trying to be strong for his 2 grown up sons. He lost his wife in exactly the same manner 4 years ago from which he has never recovered.

Tamara said:
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 @ 9:56 PM

So sorry to hear of your difficulties at home Gerald. I hope it goes as well as is possible for you and your brother.

Ideal for sitting quietly by a hospital bed, are the CD Spanish courses by Michel Thomas. You can order them through your library (start with the Foundation Course - 8 CDs), and amazingly they are not "copy-protected" so you can pop them into your computer and copy it to Real Player or Windows Media Player etc. They got me to a reasonable level of fluency (there's an Advanced Course once you've got through the Foundation). He has a unique teaching style - they are NOT like the usual travel CDs. Well worth trying. I had them in the car and on my MP3 player for a few years while I was first learning, and still have Advanced CD4 permanently in the car to work on the most complex tenses and constructions. Good luck - with family as well as language.

Gerald said:
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 @ 11:15 PM

Thank you Tamara it is comforting.
I hope you are enjoying the English summer with the rain & cooler weather!
As my investigations are now on hold I will proceed somehow with Spanish lessons. I bought some CD's about 10 years ago & am frantically trying to find where I put them. I have tonight looked further at colleges & may proceed down that line

Louise said:
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 5:04 PM

Hi Gerald, so sorry to hear about your brother. It must be hard for you trying to be strong for his sons. Awful that they've already been through the loss of their mother. I agree with Tamara. I have CD's in the car and they are useful and do help but I must confess that I am lazy and should do more! I will look up the ones that she has recommended tho as they could be better than the ones that I have which went with a college course I did. That was good but I don't think our teacher was the best and thats where you either learn lots or not! I came away knowing alot more than I did before but when I started the improvers course which was with a different tutor I felt I didn't know enough to join in so I left! When I move I will take lessons from a spaniard and try to be more motivated!
I hope that you manage to keep your dream alive and move to Spain soon.
Thoughts are with you and your family
Louise

Gerald said:
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 6:49 PM

thank you Louise for your lovely comments, they are all valued by me.
I will be reviving my blog later tonight or very early in the morning as events have moved on, although I still fully intend to come to live in Spain.